Lowe brothers could battle it out

Ben Drewe
Sports editor
Ben studied the double degree of journalism/sport and recreation at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst. During this time he did a bit of work for the Western Advocate in Bathurst. Upon completion of tertiary studies Ben spent four years at the Central Western Daily in Orange, New South Wales before joining The Chronicle in February 2010.

Former Newtown junior Jaiman Lowe has been named to come off the bench for the Melbourne Storm in their NRL qualifying final against Souths at AAMI Park.

His younger brother Ben has also been named on an extended bench for Souths so the two brothers could play against each other for the first time in what is Jaiman's last season before retiring from the NRL

The pair played together in the NRL at Souths before Jaiman moved to the Storm last season.

Souths coach Michael Maguire has named a seven-man bench which he will have to cut to four for the game.

Ben missed out on making the playing 17 last week when Maguire did the same but should he earn a place this week, the Lowe boys could find themselves in the unfamiliar position of having to play against a brother.

Jaiman said it would be a strange feeling and that it would be a hard time for their mother watching when the teams meet in Melbourne tomorrow night.

"It will be a bit different," Jaiman said.

"I've played with him a couple of times but I have never played against him.

"He won't give me anything but it will be interesting to see what Madge (Maguire) does.

"If he gets the nod, it will be different.

"I don't think Mum will watch."

It will be a case of taking on opponents well known to him for Jaiman anyway.

"I'll be playing against a lot of familiar faces either way playing against my old club," he said.

Both teams are assured of another chance in the finals, given the new NRL finals system as both clubs finished in the top four.

Jaiman thinks Melbourne is well-prepared for whatever the Rabbitohs squad, which features former Storm players Greg Inglis, Matt King and Michael Crocker, can throw at them.

"It's going to be a tough test but the last three or four games we've had finals-like footy," he said.